08 



LYMPHATIC GLAND. 



Between the surface of the follicular threads and the inner wall of all the spaces 

 of the gland, lies the lymph- channel or lymph-path (B, B), which is traversed by a 

 reticulum of adenoid tissue, containing relatively few lymph- corpuscles. It is very 

 probable that these lymph-paths are lined by endothelium (v. Reckliughausen). 



Fig. 163. 



Part of a lymphatic gland A, Vas afferens ; B, B, lymph-spaces within the gland; 

 (f, a, septa or trabeculse seen on edge ; /,/, follicular strand from the medulla; 

 x, x, its adenoid reticulum ; b, its blood-vessels ; o, o, narrow meshed part 

 limiting the follicular strands from the lymph-space. 



The vasa ajferentia (Fig. 162, a, I), of which there are usually several, expand upon 

 the surface of the gland, perforate the outer capsule, and pour their contents into the 

 lymph-paths (C) of the gland. The vasa efferentia, which are less numerous than 

 the afferentia, and come out at the hilum, form large, wide, almost cavernous 

 dilatations, and they anastomose near the gland (e, I). Through them the lymph 

 passes out at the opposite surface of the gland. The lymph percolates through the 

 inland, and passes along the lymph-paths, which represent a kind of rete mirabile 

 interposed between the afferent and efferent lymph-vessels. 



During its passage through this complicated branched system of spaces, the 

 movement of the lymph through the gland is retarded, and, owing to the 

 numerous resistances which occur in its path, it has very little propulsive 

 energy. The lymph-corpuscles which lie in the meshes of the adenoid reticulum 

 are washed out of the gland by the lymph-stream (Briicke). The lymph-cor- 

 puscles lying within the follicular threads, pass through the narrow meshes (0) 



